Dunnâs River Falls is a popular tourist destination in northern Jamaica. The famous waterfall is in the Jamaican parish of St. Ann and is about 10 kilometres east of the town of Ocho Rios, about 95 kilometres east of Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, and 87 kilometres north-west of the Jamaican capital, Kingston. Dunnâs River Fallâs is a multi-step cascading waterfall, reaching 55 metres in height (180 feet) and 180 metres (600 feet) long. Tourists flock to the falls to climb up the steps with assistance of available tour guides and to enjoy the tropical weather. Dunnâs River Falls empties directly into the Caribbean Sea beside a beautiful white sand beach, a major attraction for tourists. Lush tropical vegetation provides shade from the hot sun for tourists who decide to embark on the relatively leisurely climb.
Climate
Dunnâs River Falls, like the rest of Jamaica and other Caribbean islands, has a tropical climate. As a tropical island, Jamaica has very little seasonal variation in terms of both temperature and humidity. The weather is warm to hot year round and humidity is often high. Dunnâs River Falls, being on the northern coast of the island, tends to get slightly higher amounts of precipitation than the rest of the island, with the majority of that rainfall occurring between May and November, which includes the hurricane season which is typically between July and November. October, on average, receives the most rainfall, about 171 mm, usually over 17 rainy days. Before sunset, relief from the heat comes only in the form of cool ocean breezes and shade from the sunshine.
Rainy Season
May has an average temperature of 28C, an average low of 25C and high of 30C. Humidity begins to rise in Dunnâs River Falls in May. The standard is 9 hours of sunshine daily and the amount of precipitation increases greatly to 92 mm. The average number of rainy days is 12 and the average sea temperature is a wonderful 28C.
The monthly temperature of June is, on average, 29C, with lows of 26C and highs of 31C. Much like the heat, the humidity continues to rise in June. Dunnâs River Falls, experiences 9 hours of sunshine daily and the average monthly rainfall is 97mm. The average number of rainy days is 13 and the average sea temperature is, once again, 28C.
Julyâs monthly temperature is usually identical to June, with the same average highs and lows. July is an especially hot and humid month in Dunnâs River Falls. The average amount of sunlight is 10 hours daily and the average monthly rainfall is 98 mm. The usual number of rainy days is 14, nearly half the month, but average sea temperature remains a gloriously warm 29C.
The monthly temperature of August is the same as June and July. Furthermore, the amount of sunshine (10 hours) and sea temperature (29C) in August is the same as July. August has a slightly higher degree of humidity, though, with the same number of average days that experience rainfall (14), but a slightly higher level of precipitation with105 mm for the month.
September is as hot as the previous summer months (average of 29C) but even more humid. The amount of precipitation climbs to 129 mm with 15 rainy days on average. The number of sunshine hours drops back down to 9 and the sea temperature remains at 29C.
October is, technically, the first full month of autumn in Dunnâs River Falls, but that does not change the temperature in the slightest. October has the same average highs and lows as the summer months and the same sea temperature. October is normally at the height of the hurricane season and as such, it has the most humidity, highest wind speeds, most rainfall (171 mm), and the most rainy days (17) of any month.
In November, the temperature, humidity, and precipitation finally begin to abate. The average temperature is 27C, with lows of 24C and highs of 29C. The average amount of daily sunshine is 7 hours. November is the tail-end of the hurricane season, delivering 97 mm of rainfall over about 11 rainy days. The sea temperature remains warm and welcoming at 29C.
Dry Season
The average sea temperature drops one degree in December, but the average temperature on land remains unchanged from November, including the same highs and lows. The amount of sunlight is the same as November as well, but December occurs during part of the driest time of the year in northern Jamaica. The average amount of rainfall drops to 42 mm over a period of 9 rainy days.
In terms of weather, each New Year in Dunnâs River Falls begins much as the previous year ended. January is almost identical to December in terms of average temperature (26C), lows of 23C, highs of 29C, 8 hours of sunshine, and the sea temperature is an envious 27C. January is a relatively dry month, with only 31 mm of precipitation and 8 rainy days.
February is often the driest month in Dunnâs River Falls, with a mere 22 mm of rainfall distributed over seven rainy days. The average temperature is 26C, with expected highs of 29C and lows of 23C. The sea temperature is actually higher on average than the ambient temperature, around 27C. Eight hours of sunshine occur daily in February.
The average temperature in March is 27C, with lows of 24C, and 29C being the high. The sea temperature remains at 27C and the number of sunshine also stays the same, with 8. Precipitation remains virtually the same, with an average increase from February of one millimetre to 23, over the span of seven rainy days.
The average ambient and sea temperatures in April are the same as March, but April does see a slight increase in both sunshine hours (up to 9, daily) and rainfall (37 mm). There are usually 8 rainy days in April in Dunnâs Rivers Falls. The modest increase in rainfall is a precursor to much bigger increase that takes place in May, the commencement of the rainy season.